Machine for the production of ice-cream portions equipped with a feeding device for a preparation

ABSTRACT

A machine for the production of ice-cream in portions is equipped with a feeding device for a preparation comprising a whisking cylinder ( 15 ), cooled by a cooling circuit and equipped with a propeller mixer ( 16 ) and means for discharging the ice-cream produced. Said machine further comprises a feeding device ( 11, 11 ′) for feeding a dose of preparation for ice-cream into said cylinder ( 15 ) which includes a series of containers ( 30, 30 ′) containing a preparation or composition, for the production of a number of doses of ice-cream, supply means ( 40 ) of a quantity of preparation, a collection and mixing tank ( 35 ) and an interception device ( 41 ) of a feeding channel ( 36 ) of the preparation towards said whisking cylinder ( 15 ).

The present invention relates to a machine for the production ofice-cream in doses equipped with a feeding device of a preparation.

As is well known to experts in the field, the production of ice-cream,with particular but not exclusive reference to home-made ice-cream, iseffected by processing a base mixture in suitable machines for theproduction of ice-cream. Machines of the known type envisage the use ofheated pasteurizing devices, optionally of maturing vats, and cooledwhisking machines and are equipped with mixers. The ice-cream (asend-product) is fed in continuous through a feeding mouth situated onthe front part of the whisking machine, at a negative temperature, butin a pasty or creamy, and in any case spreadable, state. Pushed by thehelical mixer, it is collected in small tanks, for example made ofstainless steel, supported on a footboard assembled underneath the abovefeeding mouth.

This type of machine is suitable for the production of large quantitiesof only one type of ice-cream at a time.

These machines, moreover, are complex with several processing steps andare characterized by a considerable encumbrance.

Known machines for the production of ice-cream cannot be applied to theproduction of ice-cream in doses with different flavours, for examplefed by an automatic distributor.

A dosed ice-cream distributor containing a certain number of tanks ofice-cream already prepared with different flavours, would in fact beextremely bulky and in any case there would be a limited possibility ofchoice.

The general objective of the present invention is to solve the abovedrawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, economical andparticularly functional way.

A further objective is to produce doses of ice-cream using a preparationor composition, which can be sterilely preserved in the machine for longperiods of time, also at room temperature.

Another objective is to produce a machine for the production ofice-cream in doses equipped with a feeding device of a preparationcapable of producing a high number of different flavours of ice-cream.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to produce a machinefor the production of ice-cream in doses equipped with a feeding deviceof a preparation capable of functioning in an automatized way.

In view of the above objectives, according to the present invention, amachine has been conceived for the production of ice-cream in dosesequipped with a feeding device of a preparation, having thecharacteristics illustrated in the enclosed claims.

The structural and functional characteristics of the present inventionand its advantages with respect to the known art will appear even moreevident from an examination of the following description, referring tothe enclosed drawings, which illustrate a machine for the production ofice-cream in doses, equipped with a feeding device of a preparation,designed according to the innovative principles of the invention itself.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional raised side view of a firstembodiment of a machine for the production of ice-cream in dosesequipped with a feeding device of a preparation object of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a partially sectional raised side view of a secondembodiment of a machine for the production of ice-cream in dosesequipped with a feeding device of a preparation object of the presentinvention.

With reference to the drawings, a machine for the production ofice-cream in doses equipped with a feeding device of a preparation,object of the invention, is indicated as a whole with 10, and in theexample illustrated, according to the present invention, comprises abody 12 which encloses a cooling circuit, fed by a compressor, notshown. This cools a whisking cylinder 15, vertical in the example,containing a propeller mixer 16, driven by a mixing motor.

The machine for the production of ice-cream 10 in question is equippedwith means for discharging the ice-cream produced, which comprise forexample a discharge channel 18 for the ice-cream situated on the bottom19 of the whisking machine and which is alternatively closed or openedby supply devices 20 of the ice-cream.

Beneath the supply devices 20 there is a closed cell 76 which isaccessible by means of a door 77, hinged to the body 12. A collectionvessel 28 of the ice-cream produced is situated in the cell 76, forexample supported by a moving carrier 78, or with another carrier which,in the example illustrated in the figures with a dashed line, extends itoutside the cell 76 for the user.

The machine for the production of ice-cream 10, object of the presentinvention, can, for example, be equipped with a vaporization nozzle 13,connected to a vapour producer, not shown, which after the production ofeach dose of ice-cream sprays vapour onto the blades of the slowlyrotating mixer 16.

This removes any possible residues of ice-cream remaining on the blades,which would be mixed with the subsequent ice-cream productions. Theresidues removed are discharged through the discharge channel 18 towardsan underlying collection tank 14, which must be periodically cleaned andemptied. The short heating time caused by the vapour does not influencethe production time of the subsequent dose.

The vaporizing nozzle 13 is also used for effecting periodic cleaningcycles of a longer duration when washing all the parts in contact withthe ice-cream.

The machine for the production of ice-cream in doses 10, object of thepresent invention, is equipped with a feeding device 11 or 11′ of apreparation into the cylinder 15.

The device 11 or 11′ comprises a series of containers 30 or 30′, eachfilled with a quantity of preparation, and different for the variousflavours of ice-cream to be produced, in which the quantity contained issuitable for the production of several doses of ice-cream.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the feeding device 11, in which thecontainers 30 contain a preparation consisting of a mixture in powderform; FIG. 2, on the other hand, shows a second embodiment of thefeeding device 11′ of a preparation consisting of a liquid mixturecontained in the containers 30′.

With reference to FIG. 1, the containers 30, are housed in a chamber 31equipped with a front wall 32 made of a thermoplastic material, havingan opening, not shown, or at least partially removable for thereintroduction of the preparations into the containers 30 and for thenecessary cleaning.

The containers 30 are assembled in the feeding device 11 on a rotatingdevice 33 which rotates around a central axis 34, which carries thepreselected container 30 in correspondence with an underlying collectionand mixing tank 35.

The containers 30 are connected to supply devices 40 of a quantity ofpreparation suitable for the production of a dose of ice-cream. Saidsupply devices 40 comprise a calibrated dosing screw associated witheach container 30.

A tube 37 enters the tank 35 for supplying hot water in the desiredquantity, for example dosed by a volumetric dosage pump, not shown. Inthe tank, there is also a mixer 38 which, by rotating around its ownaxis, favours the dissolution of the powder preparation in the hotwater.

In an illustrative embodiment, the tank can be heated by means ofresistances 39 to favour the dissolution of the preparation.Furthermore, a second vaporization nozzle 43, also connected to thevapour producer, not shown, is included in the tank 35, for periodicallyspraying a quantity of vapour for sterilizing the collection and mixingtank 35.

On the bottom of the tank there is a feeding channel 36 of thepreparation mixed with the whisking cylinder 15 closed by aninterception device 41, for example a butterfly valve, whose opening istemporized with the functioning of the machine 10.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the machine for the production ofice-cream in doses 10 fed with a preparation consisting of a liquidmixture contained in the containers 30′.

Analogously to what is described above, the containers 30′ are housed ina chamber 31 equipped with a front wall 32 made of a thermoplasticmaterial, at least partially removable or having an opening.

For a more rapid production of the dose of ice-cream, and for a betterpreservation of the preparation, in particular in the case of a liquidpreparation, as shown in FIG. 2, evaporating devices 42 can bepositioned in the chamber 31, which preserve the containers 30′ in acooled environment until the moment of use.

The containers 30′ and supply devices 40′ solidal therewith are alsoassembled in the feeding device 11′, on the rotating device 33. Thesupply devices 40′ of a quantity of preparation suitable for theproduction of a dose of ice-cream comprise a volumetric dosage pumpwhich guarantees the supply into the collection tank 35 of the desiredquantity of mixture from each container 30′.

The introduction of hot water into the tank 35 through the tube 37 andthe mixing of the preparation are not strictly necessary in the case ofa liquid preparation, but they can still however be envisaged.

When the preparation has been dosed in the tank 35, the opening of thebutterfly valve 41 allows the preparation to pass through the feedingchannel 36 towards the whisking cylinder 15.

The activation of the ice-cream production cycle, i.e. whisking andcooling is driven, for example, by a sensor, not shown, which monitorsthe supply of the preparation into the whisking cylinder 15, or in anycase temporized.

Further embodiments of the machine for the production of ice-cream indoses 10 equipped with a feeding device of a preparation, object of thepresent invention, can envisage a housing chamber of containers ofdifferent shapes, and also different supply devices of a quantity ofpreparation for the production of a dose of ice-cream.

The functioning of the machine 10 is synchronized through consensuselectronic devices, not shown. After feeding the mixture to the cylinder15 through the channel 36, according to what is described, the mixer 16rotates at a high rate to reduce the mixture to extremely fine parts andincorporate air, the rate is then reduced during the whisking perioduntil the ice-cream has been produced. The rate becomes high again inthe subsequent extraction phase of the ice-cream produced. A temporizerends the ice-cream production and the automatic opening of the discharge18 with the extraction of the ice-cream in the specific underlying glass28.

When the glass 28 reaches the extraction position of the product, fromthe vaporization nozzle 13, vapour is automatically emitted for cleaningthe ice-cream residues from the mixing blades as the mixer rotates at aslow rate.

These parts of ice-cream are rapidly detached and fall into theunderlying collection tank 14. This process lasts about 2-3 seconds, thedischarge 18 is then closed by the supply devices 20 and the machine 10is ready for another cycle.

In this phase, the emission of hot water from the tube 37 or vapour fromthe nozzle 43 with the valve 41 open, allows the cleaning of thecollection and mixing tank 35.

Through vapour sterilization, the machine is advantageouslyself-protected from bacterial contamination even if it is not followedand washed with care every day, for example in self-servicedistribution.

From the above description with reference to the figures, it is evidenthow a machine for the production of ice-cream in doses equipped with afeeding device of a preparation according to the invention isparticularly useful and advantageous. In this way the objectivespecified in the introduction is achieved.

The forms of the machine for the production of ice-cream in dosesequipped with a feeding device of a preparation of the invention canobviously differ from that shown as an illustrative but non-limitingexample in the drawings, as also the materials.

The protection scope of the invention is therefore delimited by theenclosed claims.

1) A machine for the production of ice-cream in doses equipped with afeeding device of a preparation comprising a whisking cylinder (15),cooled by a cooling circuit and equipped with a propeller mixer (16) andmeans for discharging the ice-cream produced, characterized in that itis equipped with a feeding device (11, 11′) to said cylinder (15) of adose of preparation for ice-cream which includes a series of containers(30, 30′) containing a preparation or composition, for the production ofa number of doses of ice-cream, supply means (40) of a quantity ofpreparation, a collection and mixing tank (35) and an interceptiondevice (41) of a feeding channel (36) of the preparation towards saidwhisking cylinder (15). 2) The machine according to claim 1,characterized in that said supply means (40) from said containers (30)of a quantity of preparation in powder form comprise a calibrated dosingscrew associated with each container (30). 3) The machine according toclaim 1, characterized in that said supply means (40′) from saidcontainers (30′) of a quantity of liquid preparation comprise avolumetric dosage pump with a volumetric doser associated with eachcontainer (30′). 4) The machine according to claim 1, characterized inthat said containers (30, 30′) are assembled on a rotating device (33)which rotates around a central axis (34) and is suitable for carryingsaid containers (30, 30′) in correspondence with said collection andmixing tank (35). 5) The machine according to claim 1, characterized inthat said containers (30, 30′) and said supply devices (40, 40′) arehoused in a chamber (31) equipped with a front wall (32) made of athermoplastic material which is at least partially openable. 6) Themachine according to claim 5, characterized in that evaporating devices(42) suitable for cooling said containers (30, 30′) are situated in saidchamber (31). 7) The machine according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid tank (35) comprises a tube (37) for supplying hot water in thedesired quantity. 8) The machine according to claim 1, characterized inthat said tank (35) is equipped with a mixer (38). 9) The machineaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said chamber (35) isequipped with a resistance heater (39). 10) The machine according toclaim 1, characterized in that said interception devices of said channel(36) comprise a butterfly valve (41). 11) The machine according to claim1, characterized in that said channel (36) has a mouth situated on alower wall of said collection and mixing chamber (35). 12) The machineaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a vaporizationnozzle (13) suitable for spraying a quantity of vapour onto said mixer(16). 13) The machine for the production of ice-cream according to claim1, characterized in that it comprises a cell (76) below said means fordischarging (18) the ice-cream produced, suitable for housing a movablesupport (78) for a collection container (28) of the end-product. 14) Themachine for the production of ice-cream according to claim 1,characterized in that said tank (35) is equipped with a vaporizationnozzle (43) suitable for spraying a quantity of vapour into said tank(35).